Kenya private sector get their hands dirty as they race to attain 10% forest cover by 2022

KEPSA, through its social arm, KEPSA Foundation, on Saturday 30 th June 2018 launched the Kijani Movement; an initiative geared towards promoting environmental conservation with particular focus on afforestation and re-afforestation.

The initiative seeks to influence tree-planting across all sectors towards attaining the national 10% forest cover by 2022.

Latest studies indicate that globally, forests are being depleted at an alarming rate of 20 million hectares a year. In Kenya, the consequences of this depletion range from an increased risk of drought to recession in the economic development and a rise in the cost of living.

As a response to this growing challenge, KEPSA is actively engaging with government on policy and policy implementation around forestry and environmental conservation through the Environment, Water and Natural Resource Sector Board.

The initial action of the Kijani Movement is to set up the Feed and Green our Institutions program; a drive that seeks to partner with educational institutions in the creation of solutions that will contribute towards the overall greening of the nation.

This successfully commenced on Saturday 30 th June 2018, at Mangu High School and was graced by AMB. (DR) Amina C. Mohamed, EGH, CAV Cabinet Secretary for Education and corporate partners drawn from Bidco Africa LTD, Coca Cola Beverages Africa, Madison Insurance among others.

Speaking at the event, where she joined the students in planting orange, mango and avocado trees ideal for the tropical climate in Mangu, the CS stated that taking care of the environment is everyone’s responsibility and we all must be ready to take up that role.

Her sentiments were echoed by Bidco Africa Chairman, Vimal Shah, who urged schools to embrace the fruit tree planting program in order to diversify school diets.

“The surplus canbe bought back by the private sector for Agro processing.” He said. Rachel Muthoga, KEPSA.

Deputy CEO, stressed on the need to give the future generations a better environment stating that the KEPSA Foundation’s mandate is to ensure a year on year strengthening of the socio-economic transformation of the nation by engaging and devoting resources to socio-economic development of the country.

Over and above the Feed and Green our Institutions Program, The Kijani Movement aims to; Galvanize and encourage community, institutional and government tree-planting efforts through a strong multi-faceted media campaign, Push for public participation in tree planting and conservation efforts at the grass-root level through institutions and community groups working in conjunction with devolved government institutions, Shed more light on the importance of tree planting and conservation through community and institutional and private sector awareness forums and Establish direct engagement of the private sector in tree planting and conservation activities.